Action for a Better Community is one of seven neighborhood-based organizations across New York receiving state funding to help reduce gun violence. The grant is part of the governor's more than $20 million award to make communities safe.
The funding is designed to directly support programs that work with high-risk youth to help them make better choices in solving their problems.
"It's something DCJS is very excited about,” says Michael Green, the executive Deputy Commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. “It's a tool that local jurisdictions can have in their tool box that I think will really help against the fight against violent crime. It will help … save our young people's lives."
The initiative is modeled after an anti-violence program based in Chicago-based called "Cure Violence". ABC is being awarded $280,000 to adopt the program. Green says the agency is working with organizations to ensure they hire the right staff and training.
"It employees street interrupters and outreach workers to focus on violent dispute. Try and prevent things like retaliations, prevent one event from escalating into multiple events or even intervene or interrupt before one takes place."
Green says they hope to have the initiative up and running by summer.
After a year, Green says an outside agency, hired by the state, will measure the effectiveness of the program through crime statistics, community feedback among other metrics.
Syracuse and Buffalo also received state funding.